book reviews Editor: W .
ture demonstrations; and answers to dl exercisesin the boak. This hook should be given very serious consideration especially by those who are seeking (1) a. book whioh can accommodate s. very flexible laboratory program since the fimt third of the hook covers most of the materid an which current laboratory experiments are based, (2) a. hook which presents a, solid factual background to students before exposing them to complicated theory, and (3) a boak which introduces chemical thermodynamics early (Chapter 3) so that i t can be used as a logical framework on which to develop general chemistry.
F. KIEFFER
College of Woolter W w h r , Ohio
Chemistry. Reactions, Structure, and Properties
Clyde R. Dillard and David E. Goldbe~g, bath of Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Msemillan 654 pp. Co., New York, 1971. xvi 26 X 18.5 cm. $10.95.
+
This new entry into the field of textbooks for general chemistry involves both a. significant rearrangement of topics traditionally covered in the introductory course, and the introduction of some interesting material on structure determination usually encountered only in higher courses. Part I (190 pages) on Chemical Reactions covers staichiometry (including applications to solutions and gases); net ionic equations, redox equations, electrochemistry (including reduction potentials and Nernst Equation), kinetics and equilibria (both gases and ionio ineluding K., KO,K,, IC,,), an introduction to qualitative analysis, and thermodynamics developed intuitively and limited to chemical applications. Part I1 (186 pages) on Atomio and Molecular Structure covers both experimental and theoretical foundations of structure including atomic and molecular orbitals, crystal field theory, and nuclear chemistry. Chapter 13 on Experimental Determination of Structure is particularly outstanding and differentiates the hook from most others currently i~veilahlesince i t gives the student a chance to make deductions from actual nmr and ir spectral data. Part I11 (113 pages) on Properties of Matter in Bulk covers some topics of
classical physical chemistry such as kinetic molecular theory, liquids, solids, salutions, and metallurgy with a.pplicetions of thermodynamics where appropriate. Part IV (117 pages) on Representative Descriptive Chemistry covers some chemistry of selected elements with appropriate references to principles developed earlier in the hook. A brief concluding chapter gives an introduction to both organic and biochemistry. Contained in the Appendix is material on the metrio system, temperature scales, significant figures, exponents, physical constants, conversion factors, a 4-place log table and a, table of vapor pressure of water. Explanstions of topics in the book are generally clear and include appropriate background material from physics to enable most students to understand topics such as the kinetic molecular theory, polarity of molecules, and Madelung Constant. Important terms appear in boldface type when they are introduced. Example problems are solved by the "factor label" method with answers expressed to the proper number of significant figures. Ample exercises appearing a t the end of each chapter are divided into three categories: besic (review of material in the current chapter), general (review of material in current and earlier chapters), advanced (utilizes concepts not necessarily developed in the book). Answers to selected problems from the first two categories are given a t the end of the book. There is a useful Instructor's Manual available giving wggested objectives, lecture demonstrations, and collateral readines ~ ~ r. o ~ r i a to t t t each e c h a ~ t e,r di: - a.. rections for preparing and carrying out k
-Reviewed in this Issue Clyde R. Dillad and David E. Goldberg, Chemistry. Reactions, Structure, and Properties Wendell H. Slabaugh and Theran D. Parsons, General Chemist,rv pail F. ~ & rand Jerome H. Supple, Chemistry: Elementary Principles Ralph J . Fessenden and Joan S. Fessenda, The Basis of Organic Chemistry Gary D. Chrislian, Analytical Chemistry Ronald Breslow, editor, Orginic Reaction Mechanisms: An Introduction William E. Hattield and Richard A. Palmer. Problems in Structural Inorganic Chemistry H. F. Franzen and B. C. Gerslein, Rudimentary Chemical Thermodynamics James J . Christensa and Reed M. Zzatt, Handbook of Metal Ligand Heats and Related Thermodynamic Quantities Edwin J . Hart and Michael Anbar. The Hydrated Electron Martin J . Buerger, Introduction to ~ r y s t a Geometry i Daniel N. I,apedes, editor, McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology. 1971 Cli$ord J . Hawkins, Absolute Configuration of Metal Complexes New Volumes in Continuing Series
.
.. .A165 . . .A165
JAMES F.BONK Duke Universdy Durham, North Carolina 67706 General Chemistry
Wendell H. Slabaugh and Theran D. Parsons, both of Oregon State University. 2nd Ed. John Wiley & Sons, 494 pp. Inc., New York, 1971. xiv 26 X 20.5 cm. $11.95.
+
With the effioieney normally found only in editorial comments, Slabaugh and Parsons have transformed their rather awkward first edition into a most worthwhile text. Although the changes are not very extensive, they have most adroitly changed their book into one which is both solid chemistry and is attractive and interesting to thestudent. Since it is this reviewer's belief that a text is for sludents and not for t,he professors, this review is in three parts. The first comments were solicited from students with one year of standard high school chemistry but who had not taken general chemistry. The second comments came from students who had just successfully completed one year of college chemistry. The final comments, only, are those of the reviewer and his eollel~guesinvolved in teaching general chemistry. The first students (at the level for which the text is intended) found i t remarkably clear in general. The first chapter, Elementary Principles of Chemistry, teaches very little, but this is true of such overview type treatments in any text. Without the benefit of any class work, the electron configurations gave some problem st first, but later were clarified. Bonding and structures were remarkably clear, although the following chapter on stoichiometry resented some problems in terms not thoroughly explained. C h q ters 7 through 10 on states of matter and solutions are interesting and whet the students' imaginations. Chapter 11, Chemical Kinetics and Equilibrium, caused less problems than in most texts. The follow-up chapters, acid-base, ionic equilibrium, and electrochemistry, helped clarify the proceeding and neatly introduce a. thermo chapter that the students really enjoyed. This brings the student to one of the stronger points of the text where (Chapters 16 and 17) first monatomic anions and cations are introduced and only later (Chapters 18 and 19) are the oxyanions
(Cmtinued on page A166) Volume
49, Number 3, March 1972
/ A165
book reviews and polymeric ions and molecules treated. Next come coordination complexes, nuclear chemistry and geochemistry which aroused a great deal of interest. (One student asked to use the lab to test what he had just read!) Two chapters on organic chemistry and one each on biochemistry and surface chemistry finish the text with only a slight decline in the interest level. The appendices were found clear except for the term "rest-mass." The second group of students concurred with the first on clarity and rather preferred the new order of presentation. They found the electronic structure and equilibrium somewhat abbreviated. The marginal boxes with grey backgrounds (much improved over the first edition) provide additional material not essential for reading the text but of great interest and assistance to the student. Finally, this reviewer concurs with his students. Above all this is a solid chemistry text and not another of the mod nonchemistry offerings. Not withstanding, this is a hook that will generate more interest in the students. The frustrations that such phrases as "only the experienced scientist will fully appreciate what i t means" have been eliminated from the first edition. Many more internal references are given; hetter lead sentences really introduce the forthcoming section; many sections hrwe been expanded and a. lot fewer terms need to be defined in class.
A166 / Journal of Chemical Edumfion
tions posed by the authors to aid the student in understanding concepts he has just read. These ideally serve to make the student think about the material during theact of reading it. I do find fault with some of the topical treatment. A great deal of space is devoted to the discussion of "gram equivTHOMAS E. TAYLOR alent weight'' and "normality," conUniversidad A u t h m a de Guadalajara cepts which are very confusing even to Guadalajara, Jaliseo, Mezieo some andytical chemistry professors, and they can easily he expended. The organic and biological chemistry treatments are very tmditional, and one questions whether the students for whom the text Chemistry: Elementary Principles is intended really do appreciate the dePaul F . Weller and Jermne H . Supple, tails of mechanistic arguments in deseribboth of the State University of New ing organic reactions. I had rather York a t Fredonia. Addison-Wesley thought students were more interested in Publishing Co., Reading, Massachuthe real-world setting of organic com643 pp. Figs. and setts, 1971. xii pounds, hut no discussionof aspirin, marijuana, 2,4-D, or D D T appears in the tables. 24 X 16.7 em. $10.75. text. Similarly, little relation is made The authors of this text direct the book between ionic equilibria and water polluto a. student audience of non-science mation. jors, rtnd a. reading of the hook indicates The chapter on chemical bonding that this group includes primarily stucomes closest to being the really new dents who are taking chemistry as a techcontribution. Although not explicitly nical requirement for their major field stated, the bonding is treated largely only (e.g., agricultural, engineering, and parain t e r m of the Lewis octet rule and some medical areas). I t is not a hook wellGillespie electron-pair repulsion rules, suited for teaching chemistry to the layand students a t this level really are conm3u, i.c , the lmrwwtic.-, stwid scientt-, fused by anything more erudite. No cdwfirit 11, a t d l~tt~i~.e.-s.~lt~cl~~~r.~. more depth of coverage is necessary. T h t e x ~is well-vritre~~ m . s l fdluw? a Our elaborate teachings of atomic orbital rather classical format in the order and wave functions, homonuclear diatomic coverage of topics. One outstanding molecular orbitals, and other quantum feature is the use of arrows in the body (Continued on page A1 74) of the text to set off comments and ques-
The departure from the standard treab ments, family by family of the periodic table, is not a drawback. Two able teaohers have changed their hook into a. text. I t deserves a close second look, or better, a close look by students in a serious general chemistry course.
+
